Lifesaving and sporting raft



March 5,1946,l .u BEAN 2,396,148

LIFESAVING AN) SPORTING RAFT Filed Nov. 9, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet l Marcvl'ny 5, 1946. 'A H. J. BEAN I 2,395,143

'LIFESAVING AND SPORTING RAFT Filed Nov. 9, 1943 2 sheets-sheet 2 par@ " i omiso STA-Tes PATENT OFFICE; 'i

2 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful im- I.

provements in a lifesaving and sporting raft.

YMore speciiically,y Vthe invention proposes the construction of a novel VVfoldable raft adapted to amuse adults and children at beaches and thelike .to this invention, includes ahead section rectangular frame I). This frame I-isconstructedof and which can be. provided in numbers aboard ship providing va noveldevice for saving lives in the event the ship meets with disaster Awhile at sea. I

Another object of the invention proposes to characterize the raft by a head section anda foot section having adjacent ends pivotally connected together to befoldable into a superimposed position in a manner to reduce the overall size of the raft toy permit a number of them'to be stored Within a minimum of space.

VA still further object oftheY invention proposes a means for'locking the sections inan end aligned position and to provide the ybottom of the sections with floats along the sides thereof `ina manner to support and float theweightof one or more persons.

lIt is another object of this invention to mov' ably support the floats of thehead section and to provide means foradjusting' the positionof these floats relative to the head sectionina manner to vary the floated position of the raft on the surface of thewater. i y n Still another object of thisinvention proposes the construction of a life saving and sporting raft which is simple and 'durable and which can be y `invention and in lits folded condition.

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan Viewy of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the raft inv its -operative opencondition. Y f

Fig. 4. is a partial vertical lsectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig.l 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but illustrating y a life saving and sporting raft constructed in accordance with a modification ofV this invention.

Fig. 6 is an .end elevational view looking in the direction of the lineB-S of Fig.'5. l

Fig. 7 is a partialvertical sectional viewtaken on the line 7-1 of Fig. 5.

vThe life saving and sporting raft, according wood and is provided along its bottom face at the sides thereof with semi-cylindrical floats II.

Semifcylindrical hollow iioats Iii,l .made of vany suitable material such as corkor aluminum and of water-tight construction are attached to the frame to vrender the raft buoyant..Y I ,A

A blanket I2 is positionedin the opening of the frame Ill and is held in position by means o fv rings I3l disposed between the adjacent edges ofthe frame I0' and the blanket I2. More specifically,

. the rings are engaged through openings inthe upon the head section frame III as shown inlFig.

Vclined block `273. edges, attached vtocoil springs edge fof theblanlet/IZ andthrough complementary alignedfopenings formed in the adjacent 'edges of the frame. I i. l Straps I4 have theirouter edges attached to the sides of the top face-of 'the framejl andv their inner edges closable by means of buckles I5. The straps yIII yare space Vlongitudinally of the'frame II).V 'p f A foot section rectangularframe I6 is pivotally attached to one end of the head Vsection frame I0 by hinges I1. The frame I6 is also constructed of wood and is provided on itsy bottom face at Athe sides thereof with semi-cylindricaloats I8 of rubber tubing, cork,waluminum or any kindof floatingv material. The hinges Il A permit the frame I6 to be folded to a superimposed position 1. The frame I0 adjacent the freeend. of the frame I6 ,is provided with turnably .mounted latches I9 engageable over the free edge ofthe frame I6 to retain the frame IE in its foldedposition on the frame ,I I).y i*

The latches I9 may be turned tothe inoperative position shown in Fig. 3A and then the frame section I6 maybe pivoted t0 the end aligned position with relation to the fra-me I0 as shownin Fig. 3. rIfhe frames I0 andV lvmaybelockedin this.v end aligned lposition by means of slidably mounted bolts 2K0 mounted upon the Abottom faces of the floats II of the frame I0 and engageable with complementary keepers 2| mounted on'the bottom face of the floats I8 of the frame I6. The sides of the frame IBKa-re formed with grip `openings 22. As shown in Fig. 4 these grip openings extend yonly through. the frame `I6 and have their bottom ends closed by means of ther top faces kof the floats I8. 'vIlhese openings 22 provide arecess for accommodating the ybulging clamps ofthestraps Ill.V Y Y A .small inclined block 23 yis positioned adjacent 'the kouter end of the frame rI0 and-a person ylaying on the VVraft is to rest hishead on the in- Flag poles 24 have their bottom 25 which are in turn mounted upon the top face of the frame I adjacent the outer edge thereof. Flags 26 are mounted on the top ends of the ag poles 24. The springs 25 retain the poles 24 in their normal vertical position shown in Fig. 3. However, when the frame I6 is pivoted to its superimposed position on the frame I0, the flag poles 24 are bent downwards laterally of the frame I0 to assume a position between the adj acent faces: of the frames I0 and lli and be retained in an inoperativeposition thereby, see Fig. l.

Paddles 21 are provided for propelling the raft across the surface of the Water. These paddles 21 are supported upon the sides ofV the' frame l0' by having their handles slidably passed throughV eye members 28 mounted on the sides of the frame l0, The bottom ends of theI paddles 2T# are* formed with slots 29 engageable with springs: 30

also mounted upon the sides of the frame l0 to assistinlsupporting the paddles in an inoperative position extended horizontally along the sides of the frame l0. The paddles 2T areY removed by disengaging the spring members 3`0'irom the slots 29 and* b'y then disengaging"thehandles. from the eyemembers 2'8.

The manner of using the life saving and' sporting float is as follows:4

The frame sections |01 and' |43 will be in the inoperative folded position shown' in Fig.V l.. To open the raft, thelatc'hes I9' are turned to' an inoperative position and the frame section I6vr is pivoteditoI an end aligned position with the frame section I-0`. The bolts 2D are engaged with the keepers 2f and the'sections-` of the raft are-locked intheiroperative position. The raft is picked up by gripping the same with one hand at one side and with the other hand Yatthe lother side thereof, s'othat'the'raftcan be launched with the individual prone thereon, after which the person may 'turn faeeup ifdesired and the safety belt |'4- can be"r fastened across the chest and waist, while the persons-feet are upon the i-i'oat rest. Whenthe framei section f6 was pivot'ed to its operative po'- sition theV ag poles 24" immediately snappedfrom the'irfin'operativeposition extended laterally of the fr'aniiel l0 to'- an` operative position extended vertically of' theV frame I U;

Alperson-may then stretch out on the raft with his headresting onI the'inclined'block 23. If desired; the person may'sit upand release the belt across his' chest lower both feet int'ot'he water between thev foot rest and the frame, pickl up the paddles on both sides and roW,-at the same timey allow the feet in the water to maneuver the float' in any'- desireddirection.

In the modication of the invention shown` in Figs; 5l to 7, the construction of the raft is similar to thatpr'eviously described except that the frame section I6 hasits outer corners cut away as at 3|', means being provided for adjustably mount'- i'ng the lioats l I of the frame |'0 for'hingemovementfrelative' to theff'rame and to provide a reinforcement for the frame section lli.l

Each float VH f ismounted on the outer endof pair of arms 32. Thesearms 32 extend inwards tothe'vicinity of the cen-teroftheframe H)A and havelthei-r inner ends attached to a ro'd- 33 extended tl'ielength of-l the frame ITU. The rod 33A is turna'bly supported in spaced brackets 34 mounted on the bottom face of the frame Hl.

The latches |-9' are turnably extendedthrough f-rame IIJ and'held inposition by means ofcollar's mounted on the latches i9'V and which engage the Hfaces of the frame I0. The bottom end of the latches I3' are provided with smalliwormrpinions 36 which mesh with complementary worm pinions 31 mounted on the rods 33. Thus, when the latches I9 are turned the rods 33 will be turned through the medium of the pinions 36 and 31. 'I'his turning of the rods 33 will raise and lower the oats Il', depending upon the direction in which the latches I3' are turned.

In view of the fact that the floats Il' in this formA of` the invention,V do notlmaintain-v a Xed position the keepers 20? are=mountedf onithe bottom face of the frame I0 and the bolts 2l' with which the keepers 20 are engageable, are mounted on the bottom face of the frame I6. In other respects this form of the invention is similar to that previously described and like reference numerals identify like parts in each of the several views;

Then-flags 24 may also be eliminated when the device is used for sporting purpose and when a visible means.v for' observation. is^ notzrenuiredr It is to be. understood that .either theirame, |15 or the frame I0,v orLboth frames; ofthe/.life saving raf tv may beshaped to. terminate inza'. pointed end with curved walls.

Of the two llagsZli,v one is preferably anational nag and the othersa'n S. O. S; flag'used as'az signal.

They flags; may also be used' assai'ls formoving the raft.

Suitable blankets., maybe provided: at' both sidesof the raft. The raft may be inf large and small sizes' to accommodate adults Yas well as children and.v they may be. kept.v at., suitable: locations. and. in every berth of ships.`

While I have illustratedA and described the preferred embodiments of'my invention, it is to be understood that I' do not limit` myself to the precisel constructions herein disclosed andthe right is reserved to all changes and'modifications'coming within the' scope of: the inventionY as defined inthe appended claims.

Having thus described my invention,. what I `claim as" new;v and. desire tosecure` by United States Letters Patentis':

1;.A life saving .and sporting raft; comprising a head section rectangular framehaving semi;- cylindrical floats alongv its sides; a. footr section rectangular frame having semi-cylindrical floats along its sides and being hingedlyconnectediwith said; head section aridi movable: from arrV end aligned.A position to a. superimposedk position, latch means for releasabl'y holding said'sections' in their end aligned positions, and a; blanketK secured across the opening of said head. section', said floats of saidrhead section being movably mounted to move down and up relative to said head section, and means forJ `adjusting said' movable oats to various positions.

2. A. life saving and sporting raft; comprising a head section rectangular` frame having semicylindrical floats along its sidesafoot section rectangular frame having semi-cylindrical' floats along its sides andbeing hingedlyy connected with said head section and movable from an end aligned position to a. superimposed positioml'atch means for releasably holding saidsectlons in' their end aligned positions, and a.V blanket secured across the opening of said head'section', said floats of said head section being movably mounted to move down and up relative tosai'd' head1 section, and means for adjustingl said movable floats to various positions, said' latter meansl being controlled by latches used formaintaining the frame sectionsin their superimposed position.

HARRY J BEAN. 

